No first aid kit? No problem: how to use household items in an emergency

How to treat burns without water or cling film

If you don’t have water to cool the burn, you can use:

• juice
• beer
• milk

In fact, use any cold, harmless liquid, until you have access to cold running water. The aim is to cool the area as quickly as possible, using whatever cold liquid is available.

Remember: the burn should be cooled for at least twenty minutes for the treatment to be effective.

If you don’t have cling film to cover the burn, use:

• a clean plastic carrier bag
• a sandwich bag
• a freezer bag
• or similar.

These types of items will not stick to the burn and will create a barrier to stop infection. Plastic bags are particularly useful for covering a burned hand or foot.

How to support broken bones

If you don’t know what sort of padding to use to support a broken bone, use:

• items of clothing
• blankets

• or hold the injured part yourself

Putting pressure on a heavily bleeding wound

If you don’t have dressing pads to put pressure on the wound, use:

• a t-shirt
• a tea towel
• the person’s own hand

All these items can be used to put pressure on the wound and stop or slow down the flow of blood.

Diabetic emergency without glucose tablets

If you don’t have glucose tablets, you can use: 

• orange juice
• a few sugar cubes
• packets of sugar
• sweets
• any regular fizzy drinks (not diet drinks)

Ice to treat a head injury

If you don’t have any ice cubes, use:

• a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel
• clothing soaked in cold water and wrung out